Living in the 21st century in one of the world’s wealthiest nations, there is an expectation of receiving excellent medical care. However, medical mistakes within the United States happen at an alarming rate.
While medical errors can happen to anyone, they seem to occur more frequently in women and minorities. What is the rationale for this statistic?
Gender stereotypes
Up until recent decades, most clinical research was conducted on male subjects. This led to a significant misunderstanding of how certain conditions could manifest in women. For example, when having a heart attack, men have the classic symptoms of chest pain. However, women are more likely to experience symptoms of nausea, back pain and fatigue. This often leads to women’s cases being dismissed or misdiagnosed, resulting in delayed treatment.
One of the issues surrounding the misdiagnosis of women is that their symptoms are often attributed to psychological causes or are dismissed as ‘stress’ and ‘anxiety.’ Healthcare providers may be experiencing a subconscious bias that women are likely exaggerating their symptoms. In addition, women will wait longer than men to receive pain medication.
Women also feel pressured by society to downplay their symptoms and are discouraged from asserting themselves during examinations, which makes it easier for doctors to brush aside their concerns. Women are more likely to feel unheard. A classic example is the delayed diagnosis of endometriosis. Women are often told their severe pelvic pain is merely a part of growing up and the menstruation cycle.
The consequences can be devastating. A delayed breast or ovarian cancer diagnosis can reduce the effectiveness of early treatment interventions. Medical mistakes during pregnancy and childbirth can result in preventable complications for the mother and the baby.
Until the gender gap in medical care is closed, women will continue to experience substandard care compared to men. Holding healthcare providers accountable for medical malpractice is a step towards paving the way for a more equitable healthcare system.